DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE HUMIDITY OF THE AIR IN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

• US 3,719,033 A
• Filed: 07/19/1971
• Issued: 03/06/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1966
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean A. Den Boer
• Original Assignee: Jean A. Den Boer
• Inventors: Den Boer, Jean A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adee, John
• Application Number:
  US05/163,745
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 210/282 55/35,387 252/94
• US Class Current: 96/153
• CPC Class Codes: G10C 9/00 Methods, tools or materials specially adapted for the manufacture or maintenance of musical instruments covered by this subclass

Abstract

A device for regulating the humidity of the air in a piano, comprising a container with apertures, filled with a moisture absorbing material, said material being a mixture of diatomaceous earth, asbestos powder and viscose sponge and being saturated with water by immersing the container in water, whereafter the container is mounted in the piano. The apertures are characterized by the presence of two larger openings connected by a slot of capillary size.

Claims

1. A device for regulating the humidity of the air in the interior of a piano or other musical instrument, said device consisting of a closed hollow container having a wall provided with a plurality of apertures, said apertures consisting of groups of at least two large apertures interconnected by means to prevent the formation of water drops at the apertures, said means comprising a capillary slot which is narrow relative to the diameter of the apertures, said hollow coNtainer being entirely filled with means for absorbing moisture from a damp atmosphere and for giving up moisture to a dry atmosphere, said last-mentioned means comprising a wettable material which when dry has an affinity for moisture and when wetted comprises such an amount of water that it may humidify the air in the musical instrument.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the wettable material comprises a mixture of diatomaceous earth, asbestos powder and viscose sponge.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the wettable material is composed of two parts by volume of diatomaceous earth, 2 parts by volume of viscose sponge and 1 part by volume of asbestos powder.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said container is an elongated cylinder and at the ends of the container there are located plugs of viscose sponge, the wettable material being enclosed between said plugs and the container wall.

5. A device for regulating the humidity of the air in the interior of a piano or other musical instrument, said device consisting of a closed hollow container having a wall provided with a plurality of apertures, said apertures consisting of groups of at least two circular apertures interconnected by a slot which is narrow relative to the diameter of the apertures, said hollow container being entirely filled with means for absorbing moisture from a damp atmosphere and for giving up moisture to a dry atmosphere, said means comprising a wettable material which when dry has an affinity for moisture and when wetted comprises such an amount of water that it may humidify the air in the musical instrument.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the wettable material comprises a mixture of diatomaceous earth, asbestos powder and viscose sponge.